Star Stories, Friday 9.30pm, Channel 4

Posted by Brian Charles

Our rating:
The third in the Star Stories series of celebrity spoofs is 'Syco Productions Present: Simon Cowell: My Honesty, My Genius' – and the ridiculous title is entirely in keeping with the immense ego of Simon Cowell, as portrayed by Kevin Bishop.

Like the previous stabs at Tom Cruise and Take That, this episode absolutely rattles along through its half-hour slot, and it's very funny. The few jokes that do fall flat pass so quickly that it hardly matters, and there are lots of nice little sight gags using mocked-up magazine covers detailing Simon's triumphs.

The life history of the man who has given so much to music and television is all here, from the novelty records, through Sinitta, partnership with Simon Fuller and up to his merciless and seemingly never-ending succession of talent shows today.

And what a rap sheet it is. Records by The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the stars of WWF, taking Robson and Jerome to the top of the charts, giving TV platforms to Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan…

These are serious crimes, and frankly it's fish-in-a-barrel time for writers as funny as these. A whole host of supporting characters in the Cowell life story, from a foul-mouthed Emu and Rod Hull to a viciously in-fighting Ant and Dec, as well as The Spice Girls, Take That and David Jason get the treatment. The Westlife parody is particularly funny.

Alex Woodhall plays Louis Walsh (Simon: "you're not a yes man, are you Louis?" Louis: "Yes." Simon: "Good.") as a simpering Leprechaun and that, along with the too-high trousers recurring joke, is perhaps not the most original comic stab.

No matter, it's a cracking show. But what good will it do, you wonder? Could even mockery as cruel as this ever hope to dent the titanium armour of Simon's self-regard or halt the juggernaut of his “talent” franchises? Of course not, but Star Stories has great fun trying.